Internet Connection Sharing Methods ?

Hi friends!!

I have airtel broadband connection. I want to share this connection in my small home office . I have 7 computers.

Currently i use Analog X proxy software and share net connection in my office LAN. But computers connected using proxy software has problems like unable signing in at various sites or uploading files (downloading is fine...and Opera works better when i try to sign in into any website ...)

I also installed CCproxy software...but it had problems like ...page not refreshing etc..

suggest alternatives...

I have heard i can directly put the internet wire into network switch and share internet ?
Also how can i control sites i dont want users to browse ..?
(I have heard of Open DNS )

i am using win xp ...and have a switch .

regards
sunny

There are many options - it depends how much money you want to invest, and how much time you want to invest in configuration. Firstly, throw away CCProxy - it has been known to be used to make networks like yours in to spam-relays.

The more money you're willing to spend, the more possibilities you have. A name-brand small business router with 8, 12 or 16 ports might solve the problem quite nicely, which would also mean you don't have to rely on any one-computer being on. The drawback is that they're often not particularly cheap.

Since it seems you're looking towards a software solution, I believe I have had some success with Sunbelt's WinRoute product in the past (nowadays called Kerio Control) - Kerio Control | Kerio - it has the added benefit that you could potentially limit the maximum utilization of the Internet resources to each machine/user.

Normally what I'd do is, if you have say 2mbit/s, then I would, set it to maximum 667kbit/s (33%) usage per person - this way if someone is downloading a file, there is still 1.3mbit/s remaining for other users if they need to browse, send email etc, but the limitations do not affect performance on the LAN.

I have this -Linksys SD 208

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10007/products_qanda_item09186a0080a6710b.shtml

Can this do the job or i have to buy a "router" ? Also if you could provide link to low cost routers ? any idea how much it may cost ...

And i will definately check the Kerio Control...and inform you abt the progress.

I have this -Linksys SD 208

Getting to Know the Linksys SD208  [Cisco Small Business Unmanaged Switches] - Cisco Systems

Can this do the job or i have to buy a "router" ? Also if you could provide link to low cost routers ? any idea how much it may cost ...

And i will definately check the Kerio Control...and inform you abt the progress.

Switches and Routers are different animals. What you need is an actual router - a router has WAN and LAN facilities and can differentiate the traffic - you would connect this switch that you already to a broadband router (need to ascertain what you already have from Airtel) and go from there.

BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER, what do you have already? Is your network configured like this:

ADSL-main computer ethernet 1-proxy software-main computer ethernet 2-switch-other users
or this
ADSL (modem/router establishes the connection)-switch-all computers
or this
ADSL-switch-all computers, (main computer dials up and shares connection, all computers communicate with main computer to get to the internet)

Since you're using Airtel, you may already have an ADSL router capable of doing basic internet sharing - it MAY just need to be configured so that you can connect the switch to the ADSL router's LAN port (router/modem could be used interchangably here) and configure the router to act as a DHCP server and to do the dialling up. The only downside to this is that there would be no way for you to limit bandwidth or block websites without upgrading to a small business router.

IF, however, the blocking and the rate-limiting per user is not needed, then any run-of-the-mill ADSL router should do - Linksys is usually a fine brand - configure it correctly and you've got a connection for your office.

Thanks mgcarley!!

I have Betel 220 BX ADSL2 router.

My Main computer is connected the router. The Main computer has CCproxy/Analog X installed(i use either of them). All of my computers including main computer are networked with Linksys Switch. All computers have windows XP installed.

I want to know, step by step, way to configure router for sharing net.

Also suggest if there is any opensource or free software ...as Kerio is
expensive. ! And my need is simple ...just share the net, block certain sites or users.

My current probs are : (except main computer)...i cant refresh pages of sites using Ajax etc. I can log in my Gmail etc though. Upload speed is almost nil.

I would be delighted if the existing proxy software or any free software can be tweaked to solve the problem. And if nothing helps i will configure the router to share the net.(then i will have risk of data theft, lack of control on net usage etc)

As mg said it depends on the investment that you are willing to keep. But if you are looking for a good open source proxy software.. I would recommend you to use Squid Cache.. I have used it a long back almost 2 years ago.. Its acts as a proxy server and also web cache daemon.

Thanks mgcarley!!

I have Betel 220 BX ADSL2 router.

My Main computer is connected the router. The Main computer has CCproxy/Analog X installed(i use either of them). All of my computers including main computer are networked with Linksys Switch. All computers have windows XP installed.

I want to know, step by step, way to configure router for sharing net.



It's fairly straightforward:
0. Note your existing settings.
1. Connect Beetel directly to switch.
2. Log in to router and enable DHCP (beetel 220BX- User Manual, section 4.1.2 is what you're after).
3. Set all computers to use default gateway of Beetel (eg 192.168.1.1) instead of whatever IP address your main PC is using and it should be fine.
4. Set up WAN connection to PPPoE mode, with whatever your username and password is (see section 3.4.1 of the same document).

Also suggest if there is any opensource or free software ...as Kerio is
expensive. ! And my need is simple ...just share the net, block certain sites or users.

I'm pretty sure I mentioned that. Windows-based solutions often are expensive, partially because there aren't very many (good ones). Check out sourceforge.net - you might get lucky, but in my brief searches most of what I found was designed for Linux.

My current probs are : (except main computer)...i cant refresh pages of sites using Ajax etc. I can log in my Gmail etc though. Upload speed is almost nil.

I would be delighted if the existing proxy software or any free software can be tweaked to solve the problem.

Re-check this after reconfiguring your Beetel modem.

And if nothing helps i will configure the router to share the net.(then i will have risk of data theft, lack of control on net usage etc)

Although you'd lose some specific control over the net & usage, why would you risk data-theft? It can't be any more insecure than it is already.

As mg said it depends on the investment that you are willing to keep. But if you are looking for a good open source proxy software.. I would recommend you to use Squid Cache.. I have used it a long back almost 2 years ago.. Its acts as a proxy server and also web cache daemon.

Squid is all good and well, but he will need to buy another machine (new or used, shouldn't matter).

If you wish to share Internet without filtering anything, you dont need any special equipment. Connect all PCs to your Linksys router via switches. They all will get IPs fro dhcp, and the default gateway.. everything wud work with zero config.Dont use proxies, they increase trouble.